Flora Edwards
Flora Edwards, of Wellington, received the Insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music. Ms Edwards has had a lifelong involvement with music, in particular singing and teaching. She was the inaugural President the New Zealand Association of Teachers of Singing and is a life member. She was responsible for the 3rd International Congress of Voice Teachers in Auckland in 1994 and served on the International Congress of Voice Teachers Executive. She taught at the New Zealand Drama School, Victoria University of Wellington, is a lecturer in singing and opera, and was the first head of the Conservatorium of Music of Massey University in Wellington. In 1969 she formed the Children’s Opera Group and the Southern Opera Ensemble in 1975. Ms Edwards has performed with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, recorded for Radio New Zealand and appeared in leading roles in many opera performances.